Category Archives: Christmas

With school wrapping up so early this year, it feels as if there has been hardly any time to share some of my favorite new holiday books with my students. But books are always the best gifts to buy, so if you aren’t able to share these with your students this year, perhaps you will find a special gift for a special someone on this list!

Hilarious, tongue-in-cheek twist on the age-old question “Is there really a Santa Claus?” Big belly laughs with this one! Bright, colorful illustrations, welcome inclusion of a multiracial family and a great ending. (Caution: A child who believes in Santa likely won’t appreciate the humour, and I wouldn’t want to introduce doubt where there is none)

I kind of adore this book – it is so sweet and bursting with personality and kindness. Four animal friends discover one of Santa’s gifts has fallen out of Santa’s sleigh. But what to do with it is the question. This book is a great one for predicting and also for prompting a “What would you do?” conversation!

Oh my, but this is a charming, heart-felt and tender story. A simple, subtle rendition of the nativity story and a sweet little fox who joins the other animals in the stable. I am in love with this adorable fox who shares meaning of Christmas through his joyful spirit.

The classic holiday song is brought to life with joyful, bright illustrations by Tim Hopgood, complete with snowmen, sleigh bells, and dreaming by the fire. Great large sized book is perfect for sharing!

Intergenerational story about a boy and his grandfather who come up with a plan to save their favorite tree after some men from the city want to cut it down and use it for the town Christmas celebration.

Despite his brother and sister’s disbelief, a little boy sets off to find a “Wish Tree” with his friend “Boggan” – his little red toboggan. This is a perfect seasonal tale that mixes adventure, magic, and friendship with dreamy illustrations.

It’s Christmas Eve and Santa cannot find his underwear! This is a hilarious story with hilarious illustations. I love the “romp” Santa takes through other holidays (Vanentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, etc.) as he searches for his Christmas undies! LOL!

The iconic book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats was first released in 1962 and still remains one of “go to” books for winter reading. This year, Andrea Davis Pinkney gives us the story behind this story in the gorgeous book A Poem for Peter. What a great “pair” to be shared with students, children or grandchildren.

Thumbelina meets ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas! When I was very young, I loved reading books with miniature characters and this story would definitely have made my list of all-time favorites! Delightful and determined Clementine is a teeny-tiny girl who lives with a regular sized family. She is trying to let Santa know that she is very small and that the toys he leaves are always too large for her. Sweet story, darling heroine – LOVE!

And there are my top 10 (plus 2!) new holiday books for sharing and gifting!